DIGITAL TO OPEN DEERFIELD CENTER

Digital Equipment Corp., a major competitor of IBM Corp. in mid-sized computers, said it will relocate its Latin and Caribbean operations center to Deerfield Beach, just a few miles away from Big Blue's personal computer plant in Boca Raton.

Digital, based in Maynard, Mass., said it will employ about 150 people in a 45,000-square-foot office. Most of those employees will be transferred from company locations elsewhere in the United States, leaving about 50 to hired locally, the company said.

Like many other large companies, Digital consolidated the office in South Florida to be nearer to its customers in Central and South America and the Caribbean. The center, which is scheduled to open in July, will be involved in sales, service and marketing.